The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1887-11-04
w ashinGton.



ments, perhaps none are Of such general
interest as Is that OF Commissioner Sparks,
of the General Land Office, which has Just
been. submitted to the Secretary Of the In
terror, and which speaks more than mere
platform platitudes Of the sincere desire OF
the democrats to redeem their pledges to
reclaim and restore to the people the pub.
lie domain OF which republican rapaeIty
and venality have wrengfully deprived
them. These vast funds are not confined
to any particular locality but impartialiy
and unblushingly penstrate and permsass
every state and territory Of the Union,
which shall for many years to come EN-
blazon on the pages Of our ccunsry's his.
tory the degradation and infamy of the
most corrupt party OF the century.
The report In question shows that since
March 4th, 1885 .sa4,4si acres have been
reclaimed and thrown open 10 honest set.
tiers. The investigation of land eatrses
dlscloses the startling result that s,3rs
cases covering 37oooo acres were con-
demned to cancellation and 1883 entries,
covering about 10000 acres,were caneell'
ed for fraud, pure and simple. Added to
this crowded catalogue OF crime--its
crowning ellmax--more than Eve thou.
sand cases have been nnearshsd wherein
perjury or suborna,lon Of perjury has been
committed In land transactions.
The reports of several Of bureau officers
especially those OF the Land once and
Pension ofEiee.ea for an lncrease In theli
clerical force--ls appearing that these tive
grand divisions OF the public service are
ou;stripping In rapid and substantial
growth all Of the others--wIth the possible
exception OF the extension OF the mall ser
vice throughout the country.
Considering the number OF imPcFtan
and interesting cases 10 be adjudieased,th
October term ofthe Supreme Court OF th'
United States promises 10 be OF oiextraordl
mary interest. First In magnituds Is th'
trial Of the Virginia State officials i.npris
oaed by United States Judge Bond for al
lsdged contempt of court In the celebrates
"coupon crusher" cases, as this unhear'
OF proceeding inyolvesa grave eonssitu
tional question In regard to the relation Q
the State and National Governments.
Then there are the famous Bell tele
phone cases, the case OF the preilsr muir
der At St. Louis-wish strong probabilis.
that the fate OF the Chicago anarchist
will also be decided
Among the bills to be introduced Il
Congress next session will be seven oi
pension legislation, prepared under IN
auspices of the Grand Army Of the Re
public. with the purpose Of providing al
for all soldiers who saw actual service
But II Congress should DC weak enough 4
sanction such a wholesale raid on IN
Treasury, President Cleveland will agai
stand like stone wall between that bod
OF deaigning pollticians-wiih few hon
orable exceptions the coveted cofer
OF great and generous people.
Another measure that comes near tn
people will be the introduction OF a bil
providing for the licensing OF railway en-
gineers and conduetors--the object beinI
to obtain for sueh service areful,tempef
ate and experienced men and thus secur
the safety OF the passengers.
In this connection ! may say that II
highly probable that Congress will abolisl
kerosene lamps and heating stoves on a
railroads-repIacing these death-dealinI
agencies with electricity and steaming aF
Iparatus, attached to the locomotive.
The citizens OF the National Capital ar
making an earnest effort 10 have the mex
National Democratic Convention meet Il
this city. The initiative was taken by IN
Columbia Democratic Club in behalf Q
Washington, and the whole city is second
Ing their endeavor as public meeting
will soon be called to consider the under
taking. The chief obstacle 70 be cvercom
Is the fact that the city has no hall larg
enough TO accommodate the convention
but II is proposed to obviate that hindranc
by the erection of large temporar.
structure for the purpose. Another essen
tial part of the program will be the dininl
and wining and lionizing of the Nationa
Democratic Committee when that bod,
meets here next winter.